legatet

A legatee is a person or entity to whom a legacy is bequeathed. A legacy, in the context of law, refers to a gift of personal property made by a testator in a will. This gift is distinct from a devise, which is a gift of real property. Therefore, a legatee receives movable possessions, such as money, stocks, jewelry, or other tangible items, as specified in the deceased person's (testator's) will.

The rights and responsibilities of a legatee are determined by the terms of the will and the applicable laws of inheritance and probate. If the testator's estate is insufficient to satisfy all the gifts outlined in the will, the legacies may be subject to abatement, meaning they are reduced proportionally. Specific legacies, which are gifts of identifiable property, generally have priority over general legacies, which are gifts of a sum of money or a quantity of property from the general assets of the estate.

In some legal systems, a legatee might need to await the completion of the probate process before receiving their bequest. The executor or administrator of the estate is responsible for identifying and distributing assets according to the will. If a legatee believes their legacy has been wrongly withheld or mismanaged, they may have legal recourse to ensure their rights are upheld. The term legatee is crucial in understanding the distribution of assets after a person's death through a will.